Pick a color palette

Kansas decorator Courtney Browning of 12th and White says shelves will look most cohesive when a color story runs throughout. "Not everything has to be matchy-matchy, but choosing two or three shades and repeating them will give your displays an intentional, pulled-together look," Courtney says. "These built-ins in our living room are done in a neutral palette with silver, black and gray running throughout, but any color combination would be beautiful."

Storyteller shelves

Vintage curiosities on built-in shelves greet visitors as they step into the foyer of this Michigan home. “I’m a big collector,” the homeowner says. “We display pieces from our families, gifts and found things.” Incorporating items with a history injects personality into a room.

Office decor

Traditional display

A geometrical grouping of portraits and formal furniture sets the tone for a traditional bookcase in this Chicago-area Colonial style home. Books stacked horizontally, vertically and at an angle mix with a few accessories in dark colors for a subdued, formal look.

Cascading colors

Create a rainbow of reading and make a statement by color-coding your shelf as the owners did in this Columbus, Ohio, house. If you don't have a complete rainbow, stop by a local library sale to find the missing hues.